The History of the Bohemian Persecution/Chapter 65
Chap. LXV.
Procopius Dworzecski de Olbramowitz; &c.
I. HAving heard the sentence of death, he answered. Doth the Empereur promise himselfe any thing when my head is taken off? Let him take it then. The next day hee said unto the Minister of the Word. [I have had a contention all this night with the old Adam, even so as it made me sweat: But thanks be to my God, by whose help my soule hath overcome all temptations.] He added this also [O Almighty God, I have commended my soul to thee, do thou protect it and cherish it, and withall strengthen thy servant, that I may not be made a deriston to my enemies by any fear of death. And as thou wert wont to encourage the holy Martyrs, so I strongly beleeve thou wilt comfort me.]
2. When hee was called out to execution, hee readily answered, Thanks be to my God, who doth now call me to himself, for him I have lived, and for him will I die. il For because my Saviour hath therefore died and risen againe, that he might bee Lord both of the living and the dead, I know that this soule of mine shall live, and my body shall bee raised like to his glorious body.
3. Comming upon the scaffold, he turned himself to the Imperiall Judges, and said: Tell Cæsar that we now undergo his just judgement, but that hee shall undergo the more grievous but yet just judgement of God. And while he put off his cloathes, hee gave his purse with an Hungarian Ducket to the Minister of the word: Behold here my last riches, and these which are uniprofitable for mee, I resigne to you.
4. And when he saw a piece of gold coine hang about his necke, wherein was engraven the Coronation of Frederick, hee takes it, and delivers it to one of the standers by: I adjure thee, that whensoever my deare King Fredericke shall recover the Throne of his Kingdome, you deliver this to him, and likewise tell him that for his sake I wore this even to the moment of my death, and that now I lay downe my life willingly for God and my King. Having thus spoken, nee kneeled downe, and being struck with the sword in the midst of his sighs, he gave up his soul to God.